Regional examination shows potential for native feedstock options for cellulosic biofuel production

Abstract

Kentucky, as with many regions around the globe, has a relatively long growing season with significant rainfall that could produce sizeable quantities of perennial herbaceous and woody biomass on land that does not compete with food crops. Additionally, there are limited options for renewable power production from low carbon sources such as solarphotovoltaic, wind and hydroelectric. Recent studies have shown that producing renewable energy from perennial cellulosic crops, as opposed to starch-based biofuel crops, will have a carbon-mitigating outcome. Currently, there is a lack of data regarding regionally suitable genotypes. Herein, we establish baseline values for multiple entry selections of three native C4 grass species, switchgrass (SW) (Panicum virgatum L.), eastern gamagrass (EG) (Trispicum dactyloides L.) and big bluestem (BB) (Andropogon gerardii Vitman). Yield potential examined over 7 years showed that environment, species and entries had a significant impact on yield, but EG had higher total yield over the duration of the study. Cellulosic biofuel potential was examined by measurement of saccharification efficiency, relative lignocellulosic energy density, cellulose content and lignin content during three growing seasons. EG had significantly higher digestibility rate than SW and BB. Underlying this was a negative correlation between lignification and saccharification efficiency. However, higher lignin content and higher cellulose content among SW entries resulted in higher energy density relative to EG and BB. These data reveal that locally bred EG varieties were most suited to cellulosic ethanol production under the growing conditions of central Kentucky, USA, compared with SW and BB and suggest the importance of regional examination. Nomenclature:NREL 5 national renewable energy laboratory FPU 5 filter paper unit DF 5 degrees of freedom EG 5 eastern gamagrass SW 5 switchgrass BB 5 big bluestem ANOVA 5 analysis of variance

Comparative feedstock analysis in Setaria viridis L. as a model for C4 bioenergy grasses and Panicoid crop species

“…Lignin content increased significantly between the first and second sampling in both aerial ( Figure 2C ) and root tissue ( Figure 2D ). Increased lignification during development was consistent with diversification of the primary cell wall into lignified secondary cell walls in maturing stems, leaves, and roots (Redfearn and Nelson, 2003; Parrish and Fike, 2005; Stork et al, 2009). Soluble lignin although representing a minor proportion of cell wall biomass was measured and found to be less predictable ( Figures 2E,F ).…”

“…Alternatively, the capacity to synchronize temporal staging (sampling time) may have been congruent for the annual species, but the perennial switchgrass may display minor developmental variation. In prior analysis of numerous upland and lowland switchgrass cultivars, modest variability in cellulose content was observed (Stork et al, 2009), and therefore species level variation could also exist. Comparison of cellulose content in the mature (S2) compared with immature (S1) biomass revealed an expected and consistent proportional decrease during development ( Figures 2A,B ; P > 0.05).…”

Manipulating cellulose biosynthesis by expression of mutant Arabidopsis proM24::CESA3ixr1‐2 gene in transgenic tobacco

“…Acid‐insoluble lignin was measured according to the laboratory analytical protocols NREL, LAP‐004 (1996) with little modifications (Stork et al ., ), and cellulose content was measured as described by Harris et al . ().…”

Cinética Enzimática del Bagazo de Caña para la Producción de Glucosa Utilizando la Enzima Trichoderma Iongibrachiatum

“…El principal problema en el uso de celulosa de bagazo es su estructura cristalina que hace que sea difícil para hidrolizar (Panagiotopoulos et al, 2013).Para la hidrólisis enzimática del material lignocelulósico, la mayoría de los estudios utilizaron las enzimas comerciales caros que se suman al coste de la fermentación y por lo tanto limitan la comercialización de la producción de hidrógeno a base de celulosa (Stork et al, 2009). La hidrólisis enzimática y la fermentación se pueden llevar a cabo por diversos enfoques pero con ciertos compromisos y desventajas.…”